Blast-furnace-charging apparatus.



No. 729,831. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

A. P. AIKEN.

BLAST FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS. AIPPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1, 1902.

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A. P. AIKEN.

BLAST FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1902.

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7 llNiTE- STATES Patented June 2, 190:5.

PATENT OFF cE.

ALBION P. AIKEN, OF PORT PERRY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OFgTWVO- THIRDS TO MICHAEL KILLEEN AND JOHN F. LEWIS, OF BRADDOOK,

PENNSYLVANIA.

BLAST-FURNACE-CHARGINGAPPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part 01E Letters Patent No. 729,831, dated June 2, 1903. Application filed August 1, 1902- Serial No. 117,971. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBION P. AIKEN, of Port Perry, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Blast-Fur- 5 mace-Charging Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which IO Figure l is a vertical central section showing the upper portion of a blast-furnace provided with my improved device, the walls of the furnace being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bell and defiector. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the end of one of the radial separators, and Fig. d is a top plan view of the bell with a modified form of deflector.

My invention relates to the charging of stock in blast-furnaces, and is designed to provide means for obtaining the desired distribution of the charge, especially where fine ores, such as Mesaba ores, are employed. Where fine ores are used in the ordinary bell-and- 2 5 hopper system, the fine material accumulates in a zone next to the furnace-wall, where it sticks to the wall in a partly-melted condition and causes slips and irregular working.

Myinvention overcomes this difficulty; and

it consists in using an annular deflector or ring which is carried upon and moves wit the bell.

It further consists in the use of radial separators which divide the fine material and produce an annular row of heaps of the fine ore, around which the lump material is collected.

It further consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims. In the drawings, referring to the form of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 2 represents the charginghopper of a blast-furnace, and 3 is the usual closing-bell therefor, having the lifting-rod 4:. The bell and hopper may be of any ordinary 5 construction, except that the bell is suitably shaped for securing to it the annular deflector 2. I have shown this deflector as consisting of a vertically-extending ring 5, connected by radial ridges 6 to an inner annulus 7, which ring to the bell by plain ribs.

is bolted to an inwardly-projecting annular qo flaiige 8 on the bell. Theridge portions 6 are preferably hollow and open on the under side for lightness, and the parts 5, 6, and 7 may be castin two integral pieces, which are bolted together, as shown in Fig. 2. While I have shown the ring 5 as vertical, it will be understood that within the scope of my invention it may be inclined inwardly or outwardly at any desired angle.

In the operation of the apparatus above described the ore as it slides from the lowered bell is split by the radial ridges, which preferably taper inwardly, and is also deflected inwardly by the ring 5. The fine portions of the ore are thus separated into heaps, which 6 5 drop between the radial separators, while the lump portions roll from the deflector and separators and lie between and around the group of piles, and an even and uniform dis tribution of stockis thus obtained, the finer 7e portions lying in heaps in a circle, which allow the gases to penetrate .the charge in a uniform manner. This even distribution prevents the finer particles from accumulating against the wall, the coarseror lump portions 7 5 being at'the center and around the outside of the stock column, This assists in overcoming the irregular working of the furnace andalso saves fuel and increases the output.

Instead of using the splitting or separating 8e ridges 6 I .may connect the outer deflector- Thus in Fig.

4 I show the ring 5 as being supported from the inner-ring casting by plain radial ribs 6, which act as supports. 8

The advantages of my invention result from supporting the deflector upon the bell, so that its relation to thebell re'mai'nsth-e same, and, further, from the use ofthe separating ridges or ribs, between which the finer parts of the ore fall in heaps, forming an annular row. The distribution of the stock is uniform, the finer portions do not accumulate against the wall, and the gas rises evenly and uniformly as desired. 95

The angle of the deflector ring may be changed, the means for supporting it from ,the bell may be varied, and many other variations may be made in the form and arrangement of the'parts without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. In blast-furnaoe-charging apparatus, a

vertically-movable bell having an outer annular deflector supported on the bell, with a space between the deflector and the side Walls of the furnace; substantially as described.

2. In blast-furnace-charging apparatus, a hopper, a closing-bell therefor and an outer annular deflector secured to the bell by outwardly-extending webs or ribs; substantially as described. p

3. In blast-fumace-charging apparatus, a hopper, a closing-bell therefor, an outer annular deflector, and separators extending inwardly from the deflector and arranged to split the stock; substantially as described.

4. A blast-furnace-charging apparatus, a hopper and closingbell therefor, and an outer annular deflector secured to the bell hopper, a movable closing-bell therefor having an annular flange, an outer deflector, and radial splitters extending inwardly from the deflector and secured to the flange on the bell; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBION P. AIKEN.

Witnesses:

L. M. REDMAN, H. M. CORWIN. 

